The Wisconsin Avenue Bridge is a signature site in downtown Milwaukee. The skywalk - seen in the background - is a great place to stroll on a cold winter day.(Photo: Rick Wood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Did you know there's quite a bit of downtown you can walk through — without going outside?

That's a tempting proposition in a climate that is cold and snowy more often than not. And for parents who are looking for stroller-accessible things to do.

This beautiful building opened in 1898, and you and your kids can take free tours every Saturday at 11 a.m. to see all the nooks and crannies (the ones open to the public, anyway) hiding in the library.

Plus, the library's children's area is pretty awesome too. So, plan on stopping in before or after your tour for story time, browsing the books or just letting the kids hang out in the lighthouse replica and the puppet theater.

Wisconsin Athletic Walk of Fame

Got some sports fans in your family? Take a walk around the outside of the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena (at 400 W. Kilbourn Ave.), and see how many of your favorite Wisconsin athletic greats you can find.

The St. Joan of Arc chapel is on the Marquette University campus.(Photo: Justin Shady)

If you're a Marquette alum, you probably know about the St. Joan of Arc chapel. But, regardless of where you went to school, it's a cool place to visit. The oldest building in Milwaukee was originally built in France in the 15th century, but was brought to Marquette's campus in the 1960s.

There's Mass at the chapel every Monday through Friday at noon and Sundays at noon and 4 p.m. You can also take 30-minute guided tours Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 12 to 4 p.m. Just call ahead to set up a time at (414) 288-6873.

Get outside

Getting outside might not seem like the best idea during our frigid Milwaukee winters, but there are plenty of nice days (even in the middle of winter) to enjoy the outdoors, and it's one of the best ways to experience downtown for free.

Matt and Mary Beth Stockton of Shorewood go for a morning run with their daughter Audrey, age 11 months, on parkland along Milwaukee’s lakefront.(Photo: Michael Sears, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

There are actually quite a few parks downtown and on the Lakefront to let your kids run off some steam.

Cathedral Square Park, at 520 E. Wells St., even has a small playground area.

Pere Marquette Park, at 900 N. Plankinton Ave., is right on the Milwaukee River. It's a great stopping-off point if you're on a RiverWalk excursion.

O'Donnell Park, right above Betty Brinn, on 910 E. Michigan St., is on top of the parking structure, which makes for an interesting park experience. Its vantage point makes it great for looking at views of the lake and the art museum.

Veterans Park, at 1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, is the place to go if you want some Lakefront fun. Plus, Scott Fisher, at Gift of Wings, has said it's one of the best kite-flying parks in the country.

Lake Park, at 3233 E. Kenwood Blvd., is probably more east side than downtown, but it's a great place to go if you want playgrounds, historical sites to look at (think Native American mounds and Lion Bridges) and even the North Point Lighthouse.

And, if you happen to be downtown in the dead of winter, ice skating at the Slice of Ice at Red Arrow Park is free if you have your own ice skates.

A detail from artwork created by Tom Queoff in tribute to the Milwaukee Public Museum. His art honors the passenger pigeon, once plentiful in Wisconsin but now extinct. His work is on display in "Giving Gallery: Community in Process," a yearlong public exhibit at Northwestern Mutual. Tom Queoff

A detail from artwork Della Wells created in honor of the City Year Milwaukee program. Her work is on display in "Giving Gallery: Community in Process," a yearlong public exhibit at Northwestern Mutual. Della Wells

Mutópe Johnson's painting in honor of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee is part of the Giving Gallery, a new exhibit of art commissioned by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. Mutópe Johnson

Interested in this topic? You may also want to view these photo galleries:

If you're looking to give your kids an artsy experience, head over to the new Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons at 808 E. Mason St. The Northwestern Mutual Giving Gallery is an art exhibit that showcases 25 artworks honoring nonprofit organizations that are active in Milwaukee.